Printing mechanism



F. J. FURMAN Erm. 2,338,173

PRINTINQMEGHANISM Filed Oct. 25, 1941 5 She-ets-'Sheet 1 A I I EN 39 ATTORNEY Jan. 4, 1944. F. J. FRMAN lez-rm.v

PRINTING MECHANISM Filed oct. 25, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIVlgNTORS BY t l l l wx wkm l ikv n 1 lm wk 1 lik A TTORNE Y 3m 4, 1944- F. J. FURMAN :TAL 2,333,173

PRINTING MECHANISM Filed oct. 25. 1941- 's sheets-sheet s Patented Jan. 4, 1944 PRINTING MECHANISM'.

Frank J. Furman, Endicott, and Edward J. Rabenda, Binghamton, N. Y., assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 25, 1941, Serial No. 416,508

(Cl. 10i-93) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to record controlled machines in general and more particularly to printing mechanism for such machines.

The broad object of the invention is to provide an improved printing mechanism which is,

simpler, more ilexible and capable of more divergent uses than former printing mechanisms.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide individual tripping instrumentalities for a plurality of printing hammers in the form of magnets together with a iiexible plugging arrangementl by means of which printing may be effected or suppressed in any selected orders and during any printing operations to produce results not heretofore obtainable in such machines.

With the use of the present invention conditions for printing or suppressing printing may be preset in accordance with particular requirements for one section of the type carriers and further conditions for printing or suppressing printing may be preset in accordance with other requirements for another section of the type carriers so that both settings may concurrently control their respective sections without either affecting the operation of the other.

A still further object is to provide improved electrical control of the printing of zeros-from the type carriers.

-Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and l illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the essential mechanism of the printing section of a tabulating machine showing the arrangement of the improvements of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 3a taken together and placed one above the other constitute a simplied circuit diagram showing the relationship of the new devices with the prior machine.

Fig. 4 is a sample of a record showing the various printed results obtainable.

Fig. 5 is a timing diagram of the essential circuit controlling devices.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged View showing the type bar in zero printing position.

The type bars or carriers with which the invention is coordinated may be of any form in which the carrier is differentially positioned but for purposes of disclosure I prefer to show the invention as applied to an improved form of printing mechanism such as disclosed in the copending application of A. W. Mills, Serial No.

415,860, filed October 21, 1941.

In the present case enough of such proposed printing mechanism is shown to enable an understanding of its operation.

It includes the usual platen I0 (Figs. 1 and 6) and a number of vertically reciprocable type bar assemblies, each including a carrier I2 on which is mounted a type head I3. Each type head has type elements I4 adapted to print the numerals 1 to 9 and the letters of the alphabet. Below the type elements I4 are two zero type elements `I4a, which are separated from each other by a space as shown.

The bars I2 are moved upwardly by mechanism similar to that claimed in Patents Nos. 2,016,682 and 2,131,918, granted to A. W. Mills on October 8, 1935, and October 4, 1938, respectively. The bar I2 is moved upwardly by a cam operated shaft 2| which carries arm 22 having depending link connection 23 with a bail 24 pivoted at 25. Also pivoted at 25 is an actuating. arm 26 which is connected at its left end to bar I2 through a link connection 21. Arm 26 is urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 28 which is connected at its upper end to a crossbar secured to arm 22. Thus as the arm 22 and bail 24 are rocked clock- Wise by shaft 2|, the spring 28 will rock arm 26 1 in the same direction and cause elevation of type bar I2.

The bar I2 is provided with a set of teeth 29, one tooth for each of the digits 0 to 9, and a further set of teeth 30. Cooperating with teeth 29 is a stop pawl 3| normally held out of the path of the teeth by the armature of a magnet v32. Similarly cooperating with teeth 30 is a stop pawl 33 normally held out of the path of the teeth by the armature of a magnet 34. Magnets 32 and pawls 3I are carried by a frame 35 which is mounted for vertical reciprocation and the joint action of pawls 3| and 33 causes selective positioning of the bar I2 to stop the same during its upward movement so that one of the type elements is presented to the printing line opposite platen I0.

vThe particular manner in which type bars are positioned for printing forms no part of the present invention,kso the same needs no further detailed explanation.

Adjacent to each bar I2 is a lever 36 pivoted at 3l to a cross bar 38 (see also Fig. 6). With the type bar positioned to present any but its two lowermost elements I4a to printing position, the lever 36 remains in the position shown in Fig. 1. When the bar is positioned to present either of the zero type elements I4a to printing position a block 39 secured to the bar will be in elevated position where it engages lever 36 and rocks it clockwise to the position of Fig. 6 to open a pair of normally closed contacts 40 and close a pair of normally open contacts 4I.

Adjacent to and in the plane of each type head I3 is a printing hammer 42 freely pivoted at 43 (Fig. 1). A lever 44 lying beside the hammer has an extension 45 engaging the hammer and a spring 46 connected to a cross bar 41. Bar 41 is supported by pivoted arms 48 lying against a flattened rod 49 which rod may be rotatively positioned to increase the tension of springs 46. The hammer 42 is normally held in the position shown by engagement thereof with a spring urged armature latch S of a magnet 5I carried by a cross bar 52. As seen in Fig. 2 the armature and magnets are arranged in two rows to accommcdate the usual spacing of the hammers. Magnet upon energization will attract its armature 50 and release hammer 42 whereupon spring 46 will rock lever 44 clockwise carrying with it hammer 42. A stopping projection S3 on the lever 44 will strike the cross bar 54 before the hammer reaches type element I4 and I4a and the hammer will continue on alone under the momentum acquired, to effect printing. Thereafter the usual restoring bail 55 Will be rocked counterclookwise to restore the hammers to their latched positions.

For selectively controlling the energization of magnets SI there is provided a plugboard panel S6 mounted on cross har 52, on which panel are provided several rows of plug sockets which are Wired as shown in Fig. 3a. For each printing column there is a vertical row of four sockets numbered 51, S8, 59 and 60 of which eighteen rows are shown for illustration. In each row the sockets 58 and 59 are electrically connected to one another and to the common blade of contacts 40, 4I through a Wire 6I. Each socket 60 is connected to the contacts 4I of the next adjacent columnar position through a wire 62. All the contacts 40 are' connected to a common wire 63 extending to a pair of cam controlled contacts designated CFS.

The contacts CFS are timed to close momentarily at the usual printing time, that is, when all the type bars I2 have been positioned to present selected type elements I4 or I4a to the printing line, to energize selected tripping magnets SI in accordance with various presettings of plug connections as will now lbe explained.

Zero printing to the right As usual when a type bar advances, it is stopped either in a.K significant character printing position or one of the zero printing positions and if it is not interrupted it will stop with the second zero type in printing position. Whether a zero is printed depends upon whether the next higher ordered type bar presents a significant character or digit. In Fig. 4 there is shown an example in a eld designated Quantity of common item printing wherein zeros are printed under control of columns to their left. For such field, the related plugboard columns are connected as shown in Fig. 3a with plug connections 64 made in columns l to 4 and plug connections 65 made in columns I to 3. These plug connections are so called bottle plugs having a. configuration as shown at 66 in Fig. 1 Insertion of a connection 64 couples a magnet SI for operation if the related column is set to print a significant digit. Insertion of a connection 65 couples the magnet SI of the next lower order for operation if said lower order is set at zero and the order in which the connection 65 is made is set at some significant digit.

With the connections so made for the Quantity field, the type bars would be positioned for the rst line of Fig. 4 to represent the number 5671. AS explained, none of the four bars involved would disturb their related contacts 40. 4I in moving to these positions. Upon closure of contacts CFS a circuit will then be completed from right side of current supply line 61, through contacts CFS, a plug connection IIIJ, wire 63. contacts 40 of columns I to 4 in parallel, wires 6I, sockets 58, connections 64, sockets 51 and magnets SI to the left side of line 68.

When the type bars are set to print 700 for example, on the second line of Fig. 4, the bars for columns I, 3, and 4 would be positioned at zero and the bar for column 2 at 1 so that when contacts CFS close the above traced circuit would be completed only for column 2 since contacts 40 in columns I, 3, and 4 are now open. The circuit for column 2 will branch however from its wire 6I through its related socket S9, connection 65, socket 6D, Wire 62, contacts 4I of column 3 (now closed), wire 6I of column 3, socket S8, connection 64, socket S1 and magnet SI of column 3. 'Ihe circuit through wire 6I of column 3 in turn branches through its socket 59, connection 65, socket 60 and wire 62 to contacts 4I of column 4 (now closed) and thence in the same manner through wire 6I of column 4 to energize the column 4 magnet 5I.

It may be observed that if connections 65 were not made, all zero printing would be suppressed and only the significant characters printed.

Zero printing to the left Fig. 4 in the field designated Code shows an example where it is desired to print zeros in all positions within the eld capacity (columns 6-8 for example). For such result the connections 64 are made in columns 6, 1, and 8, and connections 65 are made in columns 6 and 1 with the same effect upon closure of contacts CFS as explained above. An additional flexible plug connection 10 is made from socket 60 of column 5 to a socket S9 of column 8 or any other column in which it is known that a character will invariably be printed. With such connection 10 made, the circuit through wire 6I of column 8 which may flow from the related contacts 40 or 4I will branch to socket S9, connection 10 to socket 60 of column S, wire 62, contacts 4I of column 6 and thence to magnet SI of that column, this circuit branching as before to also engage magnet 5I of column 1.

` 'Selective printing control Fig. 4 shows two fields headed Price A and Price B" in which the printing is selectively controlled so that for the example chosen, printing takes place in both elds for the first operation, printing takes place in eld Price A alone for only the fourth operation. Printing takes place in field Price B alone for the second and third operations and in neither eld for the fifth operation.

To explain this manner of control it is necessary to briefly refer to the record card sensing mechanism of the machine shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3 wherein it is indicated that the record cards R containing perfoations representing" the data to be printed are moved past an upper set of sensing brushes UB and then past a lower set of sensing brushes LB. The movement of the cards is synchronized with the type bar mechanism so that the bars rise as the index point positions designated 9 to 0, a: and1|2 pass brushes LB and are restored during the interval between cards. As the cards pass the brushes the perforations representing data to be printed are sensed by the brushes and cause energization of magnets 32 and 34 to control the positioning of the bars I2 in known manner.

When it is desired to suppress printing of data in field Price A from a card, that card is provided with a special perforation designated XI in the X index point position of a selected column. When it is desired to suppress printing of data in field Price B a special perforation designated X2 is made in another column. Where printing in both iields is to be. suppressed, both perforations are present.

As a preliminary, plug connections 1| are made between sockets 51 of columns 9 and I0 and sockets 12 and connection 13 between sockets 58 of columns 9 and I0 and sockets 14. For columns I I and I2 connections 15 are made between sockets 51 and sockets 16 and connections 11 are made between sockets 58 and sockets 18. The sockets 12 and 14 for each column are normally electrically connected through wires 19 and 88 and a pair of contacts 8Ia so thatin effect the sockets 51 of columns 9 to I2 are normally electrically connected and the trip magnets of these columns are energized in the same manner as for lthe Quantity field. A representative circuit for column 9 for example is traceable from line B1 (Fig. 3a) contacts CF5, wire 63, contacts 40 of column 9, wire 6I, socket 58, connection 13, socket 14, wire 80 (Fig. 3) contacts 8|a, wire 19,

socket 12, connection 1I, socket 51 and magnet 5I of column 9 to line 68.A With connection'65 made in columns 9 and I| zeros to the right will be printed as for the Quantity" ileld.

When a card having an XI perforation is sensed a circuit is completed from line 61 (Fig. 3), contacts CFI, the XI hole, brush LB to a socket ,82 from whence a connection 8 3 extends to a socket 84, relay magnet 8| and contacts CF3 to line 68. Contacts CF3 close only at the time the X hole is sensed (see Fig. 5) land upon energization of magnet 8| it closes its contacts 8|b to provide a .holding circuit. Magnet 8| is of the well known double wound type having two windings, a pickup winding and a holding Vwinding, the pickup winding being connected between socket 84 and contacts CF3 and the holding winding being connected between` contacts 8|b and a wire 85. Thus upon closure of contacts 8|b a circuit is completed from line 61, contacts CF3, 8Ib, holding winding of magnet 8|, wire 85 to line 68 to lkeep magnet 8| energized for the period indicated in Fig. 5, that is, until the zero impulse contacts CF5 have closed.

Concurrently with closure of contacts 8|b, the contacts 8|a open and as they are held open until after contacts CF5 close and open again, no circuits will be completed for printing in Price A eld. In an exactly similar manner, when a perforation X2 is sensed, a magnet 86 is energized' to open its contacts 86a in the print selecting magnet circuits of field ."Price B to suppress printing in that eld. Obviously, if both XI and X2 holes are present in card R, printing will be suppressed in both price elds.

Zero print suppression In Fig. 4 the fleld headed Name is one in which it is required to print amounts with control of zero printing to the right and in which and the N. Accordingly in this ileld the connections 64 are made as before in columns I3 to I5 but for zero control, connections 81 and 88 are made as shown for sockets 59 and 60 of columns l5 I3 and I4, the connection extending to sockets 89-98 respectively. Contacts 9Ia (Fig. 13) between which sockets 89 and 90 are wired are normally open so that no zero print circuits can be completed until these contacts are closed and 20 only significant characters will be printed.

Cards which contain amounts for which zero printing is desired is punched with an X3 hole which upon sensing causes energization of relay magnet 9| in exactly the same manner as magnets 8| and 86 are energized. As a result contacts 8Ia are in closed position when contacts CF5 close so that a circuit for causing printing of the zero in column I4 of the iirst line of Fig. 4 (will be completed as follows: From line 61, contacts CF5, wire 63, contacts 40 of column I3,

wire 6I, and socket 59 of such column, connection 81, socket 89, contacts 9Ia, socket 90, connection 88 to socket BIIin column I3, wire 62, contacts 4|v of column- I4 (now closed), wireBI. socket 58, connection 64 of column I4 to socket 51 and magnet 5I of that column.

It will be apparent that. the connections 81, 88

instead of being made vto sockets 89,l 90 may be` made to sockets 'I6 and 18 related to magnet 86 0 and hole X3 plug connected to control this magnet. The zero'print control would then be normally eiective and disabled upon sensing the X3 hole. Group indication printing The eld of Fig. 4 headed fDistrictfis to have printed thereon an amount or word which appears on each of a group of cards and if plug connections were made as for the Quantity or Code fields.y this amount or word would be repeated on eachv line. It is desired therefore to suppress printing for all lines except that for the first card. One way to effect this is to provide g the rst card with a yspecial X hole vand plug connect socket 51 and 58 of this eld to normally open relay contacts as for example 9Ia and energize the vmagnet 9| from the X hole. Or conversely, provide all cards except the first with the X hole and plugconnect the sockets 51, 58 50 as vfor eld Price A.

`Another manner of suppressing the printing from cards after the rst which does not require X punching either the rst orsubsequent cards may be effected as follows:

A tabulating machine to which the present invention is applied is provided with contacts which are closed during total taking operations which follow the accumulation of data from each group of record cards. These contacts are generallydesignated as total setting contacts in the machine and an additional kcontact designated T S in Fig. 3 is provided, whose time of closure is indicated in Fig. 5. When such contact closes during total taking operations (during which operations card feeding is suspended and 95a to establish a circuit from line 61, contacts CFB, relay magnet 91, contacts 94a, a plug connection 98, contacts 95a, usual card lever contacts LCL (closed if a card is present at .the

l brushes LB) to line 68.

Magnet 91 closes its contacts 91a to provide a holding circuit for the magnet until card feeding has resumed and contacts CFB open after contacts CF3 close at the X hole sensing time and open again. A second pair of contacts 91b are connected by a connection 99 to a relay magnet so that with contacts 91h held closed, upon closure of contacts CF3 a circuit is completed from line 61, contacts 91b, connection 99, pickup winding of magnet |00, and contacts CF3 to line 68. Contacts |0021 provide a holding circuit through contacts GF4 until after contacts CFS have closed. Contacts |00a of the magnet are wired to sockets |0| and |02 which are plug connected to sockets 51 and 58 respectively in the same manner as for eld Price A. As a result, contacts |00a are closed when the hammer trip impulse from contacts CFS is trans mitted' and printing will take place. Thereafter the contacts |00a reopen and remain so during the sensing of subsequent cards until a further total taking operation ensues when contacts TS again close.

Examination of Fig. 4 discloses that the various printing requirements for the several fields may be thus variously taken care of, all at the same time so that as in the example Quantity may be printed from each card with zero control, Code may be printed from each card with zeros to the left lled in, Price A and Price B may be printed selectively and independently of e'ach other, suppressed for designated cards, Name data may be printed without zero for certain cards and with zero control for others and District may be indicated from the first card only.

The plug connection ||0 (Fig. 3a) is provided so that by manually removing this connection all printing Will be suppressed as long as ||0 remains removed.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine having a type bar positionable to present type elements to a printing position, the combination of a printing hammer, a spring urging the hammer to strike a positioned type element, a latch holding the hammer, a magnet, a circuit connection therefor, a normally closed pair of contacts included in said circuit connection, means for completing said connection upon positioning of the type bar, said magnet when energized causing operation of the latch to release the hammer for movement under control of its spring and means controlled by the type bar when the bar is in a predetermined position for opening said contacts to prevent completion of said circuit connection.

2. In a machine having a plurality of type bars, each positionable to present type elements to a common printing line, the combination of a printing hammer for each type bar, an actuating spring for each hammer, a latch for each hammer, a magnet for each latch for releasing the related hammer, energizing means for the magnets, selectively settable means for rendering selected magnets responsive to said energizing means when the type bars related to said selected magnets are moved to present certain type elements to the printing line, and further selectively settable means associated with each type bar for rendering another magnet Whose type bar is positioned to present a type element other than said certain type elements to the printing line, responsive to said energizing means concurrently with said selected magnets.

3. In a printing machine, a plurality of differentially positionable type bars, a printing controlling magnet for each type bar, a set of positionable contacts for each bar, each set of contacts being controlled by its related bar to occupy one position when the bar is in significant digit printing position and another position when the bar is in zero printing position, selectively settable means for effecting a circuit connection between each magnet and the related contacts and means for energizing said magnets through said circuit connections and contacts for only the bars whose contacts are in their first named positions.

4. In a printing machine a plurality of type bars each positionable in several digit representing positions, a printing hammer for each, a release magnet for each hammer, energizing means for the magnets, means controlled by said bars when all are positioned to represent a significant digit or at least one is set to represent a significant digit for rendering said energizing means effective to concurrently energize all the magnets, and when both bars are positioned to represent zero for rendering said energizing means ineffeotive.

5. In a printing `machine a type bar differentially positionable to represent the digits, a printing hammer therefor, a release magnet for the hammer, contacts controlled by the bar, energizing means for the magnet and selectively settable means cooperating with said contacts effective when set in one position to render the energizing means effective only when the bar is positioned to represent significant digits and effective when set in another position for rendering the energizing means effective only when the bar is positioned to represent a Zero.

6. In a machine of the class described, a differentially positionable type carrier, record sensing means, means controlled thereby to cause positioning of said carrier, said carrier having at least two different positions, a printing hammer, tripping means therefor, means controlled by the carrier for rendering the tripping means effective when the carrier is in its one position and ineffective when the carrier is in the other position, and settable means cooperating with said last named means for controlling the tripping means whereby the tripping means is rendered ineffective when the carrier is in its said one position and effective when the carrier is in its said other position.

FRANK J. FURMAN. EDWARD J. RABENDA. 

